Boyle In, Whitmer Out

[HartfordHank]

Do you really think USF is going to have a drastic change in approach if Boyle is under center compared to Whitmer?

Drastic, no, change yes. If they find out a day before the game they have a problem getting his HS film. With this much notice they can get some HS film and have a better understanding of what throws he can and can't make. Not a lot of information but more than they would have.

It also allows them to ignore much of the film they have on Whitmer. Maybe that should be ignored anyhow with new coaches.

 

[junglehusky]

Really dont think this is a good idea. Why burn the kids year ? For what to try to get to five or six wins? The fact it was coach p planning should tell u to stay away

Heck if putting Boyle or anybody else can get 5-6 wins out of 8 games, no question I pull the trigger. We don't know that yet but if Boyle really is ready to compete at the college level, then the redshirt is not as important. If it pays off, the media narrative goes from "Uconn had an abomination of a year in 2013, going 1-11 and then cleaning house at the end of the year" to "After faltering to an 0-4 start, new Head Coach TJ Weist righted the ship, earning the full-time job by going 6-2 thanks to the emergence of local whiz kid Tim Boyle". It's not so much to save the season to go bowling (though WM might say otherwise, and right now it is mathematically possible if things can get fixed quick) it's about getting the program moving again so that a winning season in 2014 isn't so far fetched. If there's hope it helps the fanbase, it helps recruiting, it helps the media buy in. And if Boyle has a few wins under his belt this season then he'll be an experienced sophomore heading into 2014.

There is of course a risk he gets injured or spooked behind an O-line that's still a work in progress. That's the risk you take, but you also take it with every young QB you play.

 

[The Viking]

Drastic, no, change yes. If they find out a day before the game they have a problem getting his HS film. With this much notice they can get some HS film and have a better understanding of what throws he can and can't make. Not a lot of information but more than they would have.

It also allows them to ignore much of the film they have on Whitmer. Maybe that should be ignored anyhow with new coaches.

Normally i would consider your point, but we're playing USF in two weeks. USF. And for what it's worth, this news isn't official...and it's not from Weist...although Weist has said all options are on the table.

 

[Gurleyman]

The other little element to consider is that if we redshirt him this year, and he suffers a season-ending injury in a future year, the medical redshirt is out as an option. That's always the risk of the deliberate redshirt - you're left with four years to play four instead of five (you can get two redshirts for a sixth year if they are both due to injury). I've always thought that if they are physically and mentally ready to go, it makes sense to play them (if they need a year in the weight room, or can't grasp the plays as a true freshman, then you might as well not burn a year).

 

[UConnDan97]

The best quarterback should play, and probably will play. Keep in mind that it may still be Whitmer. I think people are going to be surprised how much production we can get out of ALL of our QB's (Cochran included) once the protection is worked out and we actually have a run game that produces more than 30 yards a game...

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

It seems odd to me that PP would talk about the QB change. Would he talk about this if he was still HC? He always seemed like a close to the vest guy...seems like we wouldn't have heard about this until gameday...but now he decides to share this type of information 12 days before the game? Just seems odd.

 

[John Greene]

It seems odd to me that PP would talk about the QB change. Would he talk about this if he was still HC? He always seemed like a close to the vest guy...seems like we wouldn't have heard about this until gameday...but now he decides to share this type of information 12 days before the game? Just seems odd.

PP wants to help USF all he can, just in case they have an opening at the end of the season.

 

[amory]

Too bad, I was looking forward to seeing what Cochran has. I'm a fellow Masuk alum

 

[uconnbill]

Best quarterback should play even if he is a true freshman. If he gives UCONN the best chance to win you have to play him.

 

[jackl]

Heck if putting Boyle or anybody else can get 5-6 wins out of 8 games, no question I pull the trigger. We don't know that yet but if Boyle really is ready to compete at the college level, then the redshirt is not as important. If it pays off, the media narrative goes from "Uconn had an abomination of a year in 2013, going 1-11 and then cleaning house at the end of the year" to "After faltering to an 0-4 start, new Head Coach TJ Weist righted the ship, earning the full-time job by going 6-2 thanks to the emergence of local whiz kid Tim Boyle". It's not so much to save the season to go bowling (though WM might say otherwise, and right now it is mathematically possible if things can get fixed quick) it's about getting the program moving again so that a winning season in 2014 isn't so far fetched. If there's hope it helps the fanbase, it helps recruiting, it helps the media buy in. And if Boyle has a few wins under his belt this season then he'll be an experienced sophomore heading into 2014.

There is of course a risk he gets injured or spooked behind an O-line that's still a work in progress. That's the risk you take, but you also take it with every young QB you play.

Just remember what the UM QB said after he left the game last weekend where he thought that the USF bulls played dirty.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

I agree with the "let the best kids play." You can't worry about the program five years from now. We don't have the luxury of patience. This is a program in a tough spot. If Boyle gives you a chance to win, you put him in there. You generate buzz. You get the fans interested again. If you do those things, the program becomes more attractive to other conferences, to television, to recruits. It snowballs and helps the program 5 years from now anyway. We can't afford to wait.

That being said, I have no idea if Boyle is the answer at QB. But if he's better, I don't see why you don't give him a shot.

 

[huskeynut]

The debate will continue until TJ makes the call. PP's words are meaningless. He is no longer in charge of the program.

TJ said in the presser he and his staff will evaluate all personal.

If Boyle is the best option, so be it.

 

[Jarhead_1775]

Seems to me although this may be true, Dez I don't think said that Boyle is "in". He said "look for Boyle". Nuanced difference. Clearly this didn't come from who the actual coach is. Think I'll wait for that.

 

[Jax Husky]

As it remains to be seen if the guy making the decision here will be a stakeholder at the back end of Boyle's eligibility I don't believe that this is the correct decision.

That said, I feel more comfortable about putting this kid into an offense that will truly be run by Weist and Day than what he would have been thrown into if today's moves were not made.

I'm not worried about it. If Boyle is starting in 5 years, it means 2 things.

1. He was not good enough to go to the NFL as a 4th year junior
2. We have not recruited anybody that can beat out a non-NFL QB.

5 years down the line is an eternity. If a kid can play (and not get killed), then you don't worry about the RS.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I'm not worried about it. If Boyle is starting in 5 years, it means 2 things.

1. He was not good enough to go to the NFL as a 4th year junior
2. We have not recruited anybody that can beat out a non-NFL QB.

5 years down the line is an eternity. If a kid can play (and not get killed), then you don't worry about the RS.

You are joking right?

Tell me, where would a QB with eligibility remaining need to go in the draft in order to forgo his remaining time in college? First round, no brainer, enter the draft. Second round? Then he would need to think where another good year in college would place him in the following draft (think Andrew Luck). Third round or later? He would be far wiser remaining in school.

So if Boyle doesn't end up after a RS junior year as a sure fire draft prospect there would be no reason to keep him around anyway? That is the only conclusion I can draw from your post.

My point (although is was in part in keeping a kid here longer to help the team more) was primarily that if the people involved in the decisions are not looking at the entire picture (more worried about today as they know they won't be around tomorrow if today doesn't go well) the decisions may not be what is best for the long term.

If it is a slam dunk that this kid were a) able to play (and stay healthy) now and b) will be entering the NFL draft once he is eligible for that draft then I would say absolutely play him now. How many QB's are a slam dunk to be NFL ready three (or even four) years out of HS?

 

[Jax Husky]

You are joking right?

Tell me, where would a QB with eligibility remaining need to go in the draft in order to forgo his remaining time in college? First round, no brainer, enter the draft. Second round? Then he would need to think where another good year in college would place him in the following draft (think Andrew Luck). Third round or later? He would be far wiser remaining in school.

So if Boyle doesn't end up after a RS junior year as a sure fire draft prospect there would be no reason to keep him around anyway? That is the only conclusion I can draw from your post.

My point (although is was in part in keeping a kid here longer to help the team more) was primarily that if the people involved in the decisions are not looking at the entire picture (more worried about today as they know they won't be around tomorrow if today doesn't go well) the decisions may not be what is best for the long term.

If it is a slam dunk that this kid were a) able to play (and stay healthy) now and b) will be entering the NFL draft once he is eligible for that draft then I would say absolutely play him now. How many QB's are a slam dunk to be NFL ready three (or even four) years out of HS?

If Boyle, after his RS JR year is not a draft prospect, then I hope we've brought in another QB over the previous 4 years that is as talented, if not as experienced. That's all. Plenty of very serviceable Senior QBs have helped college teams win games, but you don't go worrying about redshirts for a guy to be a slightly above average in 5 years. You fix that problem by continuing to recruit. The idea of "stockpiling" recruits is outdated. Today's successful programs bring kids in, play them, and then bring the next kids in.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

There is a bit of a difference between being a draft prospect and being someone who would forgo a year's eligibility and enter the draft.

This is a moot point as the RS is being blown. I hope Marchi works out so that we don't lose anything in this equation but my largest point is still that this decision would have an entirely different feel to it if there was a reasonable belief that the HC agreeing to this will be a stakeholder on both ends of this kid's college career.

For the record I also have believed (little more than a gut feeling but I had posted this many times since summer camp) that an agreement was reached with Boyle while recruiting him that he would play as a true freshman.

I hope this kid lights it up the remainder of the season.

 

[ktuck911]

I'll also say that if the staff was starting to think of Boyle as a better alternative over the past few weeks, maybe having him get 8 games under his belt starting in two weeks - with at least a somewhat different offensive take on things - and the lowly USF Bulls - might be a jolt for this football team.
Weist in charge, Foley on the line, Boyle under center, and USF in the house. A potential grand slam of goodness.

U say 'lowly' like we're any good. Right now we're as bad as USF. 0-4 and belittling our up coming opponent isn't too smart. Especially while we break in a new QB. Think their DL won't be pinning their ears back? We gotta get our ish together.

 

[The Viking]

I called them lowly - which they are. That's all.